{"id":369218,"date":"2025-03-18T14:30:20","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T19:30:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/realestate\/landlord-tenant-law\/how-to-make-a-free-residential-lease-agreement.html"},"modified":"2025-03-18T15:02:00","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T20:02:00","slug":"how-to-make-a-free-residential-lease-agreement","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/realestate\/landlord-tenant-law\/how-to-make-a-free-residential-lease-agreement.html","title":{"rendered":"How To Make a Free Residential Lease Agreement"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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How To Make a Free Residential Lease Agreement<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Jordan Walker, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Catherine Hodder, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n

Making a residential lease agreement between a landlord and tenant involves stating the terms of the lease agreement, such as the monthly rent, security deposit, rent payment due date, late fees, and the period of time the tenant can stay there in a legal document that complies with landlord-tenant laws.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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\n What To Expect in This Article\n <\/h2>\n
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In this article, we guide you through the process of creating your own rental lease agreement, explaining what to include and how to customize our free lease agreement template for your residential property needs.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n \n Jump to Residential Lease Agreement Template<\/span>\n <\/i>\n <\/a>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

What Is a Residential Lease Agreement?<\/b><\/h2>\n

A residential lease agreement is a type of rental contract between the homeowner of residential real estate property, also known as the landlord, and the person who lives there, called a tenant. It outlines the terms and conditions in which the landlord rents out the property to a new tenant. This legal document is necessary for landlord-tenant relationships because it allows both sides to understand their rights and responsibilities regarding the property.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s easy to confuse lease agreements with rental agreements, so it\u2019s important to understand the difference<\/a>. Rental agreements are typically for short-term accommodations, like month-to-month rental agreements that can be renewed every 30 days. A standard lease agreement covers a longer period of time, usually at least one year, and is considered a fixed-term lease. However, depending on your needs, a residential lease agreement can also be created as a month-to-month lease.<\/p>\n

There are two main types of lease agreements: residential and commercial. Commercial lease agreements are for commercial properties, such as real estate, used for business purposes. A residential lease agreement applies to residential property where people live, like a house, apartment, or other dwelling where one or more individuals reside.<\/p>\n

What You Should Include in a Residential Lease Agreement<\/b><\/h2>\n

Let’s break down the essential parts that should be clearly stated in a new lease agreement:<\/p>\n